ESPN is reportedly parting ways with Shannon Sharpe following his settlement of a $50 million sexual battery and rape lawsuit earlier this month.
Sources confirmed the news to the Athletic on Wednesday.
ESPN and Sharpe have not responded to requests for comment from Page Six.
Sharpe, 57, was sued in Nevada in April by a woman known as Jane Doe.
She claimed that the former NFL player had raped her multiple times between late 2024 and early 2025.
The woman, who alleged that she met Sharpe in 2023 at a gym, stated in the lawsuit that she had been in an abusive relationship with him for years prior to the alleged assaults.
Doe also mentioned that she was 20 years old while Sharpe, a retired tight end, was in his 50s.
She claimed that Sharpe had aggressively pursued her by sending texts, calling her, and demanding her presence at his Beverly Glen mansion.
Following the lawsuit, Doe’s legal team released an audio recording purportedly of the sports commentator threatening to harm her.
In response to the accusations, Sharpe’s legal team shared screenshots of alleged text messages between him and Doe, claiming that their relationship was consensual and involved elements of “fantasy” and “role-playing.”
Sharpe vehemently denied the assault claims and threatened to file a countersuit.
He announced a temporary leave from his role at ESPN, stating via X, “This is the truth. The relationship in question was 100% consensual.”
“At this point, I have decided to temporarily step away from my ESPN responsibilities. I will be using this time to focus on my family and address and refute these false and disruptive allegations made against me,” he stated.
During that period, ESPN indicated to Page Six that they “supported Shannon’s decision to take a step back.”
Sharpe faced another rape accusation in a separate lawsuit filed in April, which he also denied.
